In our last class of the year today, we reviewed the format of the test, when to encounter each section and the time allotted for each section. We could not access the AP Classroom for the College Board website. Since the exam is tomorrow at 8 am, it may have been on overload or crashed. We spent time broadly reviewing each section and the best strategies to evaluate all types of questions, the MCQ, the SAQ, the DBQ and the LEQ. The 40 min,SAQ section comes after the MCQ section. It consists of 4 questions. student must answer questions 1 & 2 that can cover any period between 1200 and the present. The first requires students to assess some sort of secondary source. The second requires assessment of primary source material. Students choose either question 3 or 4 to answer. #3 focuses on material from 1200-1750 and he 4th focuses on material from 1750-present.
Assignment
Eat a good dinner, one overall review, then get to bed early and sleep well, Joshua!
An essay response may demonstrate a complex understanding in a variety of ways: 1) Explaining the nuance of an issue by analyzing multiple variables, 2) Explaining both similarity and difference, or by explaining both continuity and change, explaining multiple causes, or explaining cause and effect. 3) Explaining relevant and insightful connections within and across periods, 4) Confirming the validity of an argument by corroborating multiple perspectives across themes, 5) Qualifying or modifying an argument by considering diverse or alternative views or evidence. Remember, this understanding must be part of the argument, not merely a phrase or a reference! I emailed these reminders to Joshua after class today, as well.
Assignment
Read pp. 407-440 in Barron's, Review Practice Test #2!
Today we spent time reviewing the "look" of an actual (retired/now practice test). It's important for Joshua to be familiar with the format and look of the test as well as the order of the sections. We spent a good deal of time evaluating documents for the DBQ. We reviewed how Joshua should evaluate them, where to locate the source, publication and year of the document and if the document is a primary or secondary source.
Assignment
Read pp. 357-374 in Barron's and review practice test 2, pp. 495-531
Session Minutes
45
Minutes Student Attended
45
Lesson Comments
It seems that Joshua may be nervous about the impending test. He is having trouble with serious focus during these last few classes. We have only two remaining classes before the test on Thursday morning!
Joshua knows the sections and allotted times for each of them on this exam. Today we talked about how the exam will look. Because Joshua could not find his Barron's, we couldn't view a sample, 3-hour examine in its entirety today. He knows he must do this for HW. He also needs to continue reading the Barron's review as we are now up to the 20th century. Joshua says he doesn't like the 20th century and I can respect that, but he must review it! I described the appearance of the DBQ prompt and the following 7 documents again today.
Assignment
Joshua MUST spend time reviewing one of the 3-hour Barrons sample exams of his choosing, review the world since 1900 and remember to bring his Barron's book to school on Monday.
Session Minutes
45
Minutes Student Attended
45
Lesson Comments
It's such a shame that Joshua's 4th remaining class before his AP History exam was remote today. Joshua has challenges getting onto Teams and when he needs to be on it, he always has trouble with connectivity. To give you an example, he called me 48 times today! This only made it more challenging for my calls to get to Joshua. He marks the calls as "Urgent," which is also not necessary and the ensuing chimes creates background noise during class. Also a bit unusual is that Joshua was not at all prepared for today's lesson. His history book was at school and he couldn't locate his Barron's for us to work on review together which is so vital right now. I understand that Joshua must be tired from the two AP exams he took this week, but he was extremely ill-equipped for class, unfocused and didn't seem to understand the seriousness of preparing for this next AP. He has only one remaining weekend to prepare and 3 remaining history classes. Joshua may also be understandably nervous about the exam, but his conduct and preparation were not conducive to AP level work today.
Today we worked on more DBQ strategies that are beneficial before a student even begins to write their DBQ response. Students must
evaluate the question, 7 documents and plan a response within the 60 allotted minutes for this part of the AP exam. Develop claims and arguments they can prove with specific and relevant info from the documents. They must remember to source the documents as they write the essay, but also incorporate relevant evidence from their own knowledge of history to support their essay claims. A thesis must address the prompt, take a position and provide a line of reasoning. We will be spending more time on DBQ. LEQ and SAQ preparation during our four remaining classes.
Assignment
Review pp. 243 - 285 on Governance in Barron's, then read pp. 287 - 294 on Cultural Developments 1750 - 20th Century
We reviewed Joshua's work on Chap. 11 & 12 in Barron's. He scored 95% & 100% on the M/C chapter quizzes. Way to go, Joshua! M/C questions have always been one of Joshua's strengths. We continue to work on AP writing - 2/3 of the exam. Today we spent some time on the 2023 DBQ and how to utilize the 7 documents that accompany this 60 minute essay on the AP exam. Today's sample question from the 2023 exam: "Evaluate the extent to which Enlightenment thought continued to influence political and social debates across the world throughout the period 1750-1900." For the next week, we will utilize review from AP Central and Barron's.
We reviewed Joshua's Barron's HW quizzes for the three chapters assigned. Chapters 7 & 9 were 80%, BUT chap. was 95% - a cumulative average of 85%. Today we reviewed Economic Systems from 1450 - 1750. Such topics included things like the Colombian Exchange, Triangular Trade and the influx of precious metals out of the Americas. We're starting with Chapters 10 & 11 review in class on Wed., May 3 in class because Joshua will be taking his Environmental Science AP early tomorrow, May 2.
Assignment
No HW due to AP Environmental Science tomorrow 5/2 at 8AM
Joshua scored 80% on Barron's Chap. 6 quiz last night. I sense he is not reviewing for the course or reviewing Barron's as thoroughly as he needs to be prepared for the AP Exam on May 11. Today we continued to review AP MCQ from AP Central. Joshua was reminded to be methodical and answer every question. Also, use chronology and if possible, refer back to the source. Be careful not to skip any questions!
Assignment
In Barron's, read pp. 167 - 211,, complete chap. 7 quiz, 184-187, Chap.8 quiz 199-202, Chap.9 quiz 207-211 due Mon., 5/1.
